Sound translating machine



Mayll, 1943. B. PROCTOR 2,318,628

I SOUND TRANSLATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VE NTO R Barron A. Procfor ATTORNEYS y 3-' a. A. PROCTOR 7* 2,318,628

SOUND TRANSLATING MACHINE Filed March 19; 1940 s Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Barron Afrocfor ATTORNEYS y 1943- 1 B. A; PROCTOR I 2,318,628

SOUND TRANSLATING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet a i INVENTIOR fiarfoflAP/vcfor ATTORNEYS y 11, 1943- B. A. PlozTon Q 2,318,628 -SOUND TRANSLATINGMAQEINE Filed March 19, 1940 5 sheets sheet 4 lNVENTOR fiarfmAProcfor ATTORNEYS y 1943' B. A. PRbc'ro 2518,628

SOUND TRANSLATING MAQHINE Filed March 19, 1946 5 Sheets-sheet 5 v F v 0 S 5 mm m NW R E. 0 6 mm v 0 A M v B Q mwt Patented May 11, 1943 UNlTED STATES SOUND TRANSLATING MACHINE Barton A. Proctor, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to B. A. Proctor Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 19, 1840, Serial No. 324,774

12 Claims.

tation machines and is shown and described herein for illustrative purposes as embodied in a machine of the kind disclosed in the pending application of Barton A. Proctor and Ferdinand C. W. 'I'hiede, Serial No. 218,082 filed July 8, 1938 for Sound recording and reproducing, now Patent No. 2,296,870, in the pending application of Barton A. Proctor, Serial No. 281,811, filed June 29, 1939, for Sound recording and reproducing, and in the pending application of Barton A. Proctor, Serial No. 453,202, filed August 1, 1942, for Sound recording and reproducing, as a division of Serial The primary object of the invention is to make provision in a dictation machine of remote control means for enabling the dictator quickly and conveniently to listen in to reproduction of a portion of the recorded matter, and then to restore the machine to the condition for recording.

In pending application Serial No. 281,811 disclosure is made of a dictation machine in which an operator, by a series of manual operations, is able to set the machine either for recording, for normal reproduction, or for back space reproduction and incidentally to effect appropriate alteration of electrical connections to recording and reproducing circuits. These features are desirably retained in the machine of the present application for the benefit of the transcriber, and

to enable the machine to be utilized bythe dictater independently of the remote control fea-' ture if desired, but the remote control feature is superimposed upon the'mechanism disclosed in" Serial No; 281,811.

The invention of the present application is not confined in its utility to the illustrative machines of Serial Nos. 218,082 and 281,811.

Other objects and advantages appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in sectional, side elevation of a machine embodying the invention, the section being taken on the line 1-! of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction-of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken 55 will hereinafter upon the line 3-3 of Figure 4, looking in 'the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary. detail, sectional view illustrating switch controlling parts;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating a clutch shifter;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view illustrating a portion of a motor for operating the machine between the record and reproduce conditions, and a clutch together with the clutch shifter of Figure 6, which is associatedwith the motor;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating electrical circuits employed in the machineifor the purpose of remote control; and

Figure 9 is a view generally similar to Figure5, but illustrating a modified switch operating link-- age for the recording and reproducing circuits.

As previously mentioned, the illustrative machine is generally like the machine disclosed and claimed in Serial No. 281,811. It comprises aframe structure I which carries a turtle-back support 2, Figure 4, upon which a thin, flexible disc record 3 may be mounted. The record 3 is impaled upon, and interfitted with, a centerspindle 4, Figures 2 and 3, which spindle is mounted on a carriage 5. The record 3 is driven rotatively by a fixed feed wheel 6 and a cooperative feed wheel 1. The feed Wheel 7 and its shaft lb are revolubly supported in a rocker arm or frame 8, the arm 8 being rockably mounted upon a shaft 9 and provided with a tail extension 10 which may be lowered and raised to carry the feed Wheel 1 away from and toward the recor Y "1 The motor 6a, Figure 1, is connected through: a belt 61) to drive a pulley 60, fast on the drive. shaft 8d of the feed wheel 6,. A hub portion lie of the pulley 6c is adapted to engage and drive a disc 1a, fast on the shaft lb of the feed wheel 1, when the wheel I is in record-engaging position.

Rotation of the record is transmitted to the center spindle 4 and thence through spiral gears ll and Ila to a feed screw l2 which is mounted in the carriage 5 and which serves as the driving element for the carriage. The feed screw I2 is engageable with a half nut :13. The half nut I8 is carried at the forward end of an arm M fast on a shaft l5.. The shaft l5 also has fast upon it an upwardly extending an 16, which may be actuated to cause the half nut 13 to be rocked out of engagement withthe feed screw 12 and intoengagement with the feed screw I2. The nut arm I4 is immovable axially of the feed screw I2, and hence, when the half nut I3 is engaged with the feed screw, rotation of the feed screw causes the feed screw and its carriage to move in the direction of the axis of the feed screw and to carry the center spindle 4 away from the point at which the feed wheels 6 and 1 engage the record. As a result of the compound motion imparted to the record, a stationary recording stylus is caused to form a spiral sound track in the face of the record 3 which progresses outward from the center as the sound groove is scribed on the record by the stylus.

As in the case of the machine disclosed in Serial No. 281,811, it is desirable that a recording unit I1, including a recording stylus I8, be provided for forming the sound track on the record, and that a separate reproducing unit I9 including a reproducing stylus 26 to be provided for enabling the scribed sound track to be translated into sound.

The recording and reproducing units are mounted and controlledto enable the styluses I8 and to be alternatively located at the same record-engaging point opposite a revoluble platen 2 I.

A yoke 22, Figures 2 and 4, rockably mounted upon a transverse horizontal shaft 23, extends upward, and pivotally supports the rear ends of the recorder unit I1 and the reproducer unit I9 through a pivot pin 24. A yoke 25, journaled on the pin 24, carries a vertical pivot pin 26 upon which the recorder unit I1 is mounted with capacity for transverse adjustment. The recorder I1 includes a bent guide arm 21 which extends rightward from the unit and thence forward, see Fig. 2.

An arm 5| is journaled upon the pin 24 between the ears of the yoke 25 and carries a vertically disposed pivot pin 52, upon which an angle arm 53 is journaled. The angle arm 53 has the reproducer unit I9 fixedly mounted upon its forward or free end. The arm 53 has also afiixed to its forward end an arm or rod 54 which includes a shank portion 55 that extends toward the right in Figure 2, and an end portion 56 that extends toward the front of the machine.

As seen in Figure 3, the parts are in recording position with the recording stylus I8 engaging the record 3. The yoke 22 is held forward by a spring 22a, see Figure 4, with the arm 24b in engagement with an adjustably mounted stop 24c.

Selector or control mechanism comprises an operating finger piece 51 fast upon the forward end of a shaft 58. The finger piece may be op-' erated to any one of three positions designated, respectively, as Record, Neutral and Reproduce. The shaft 58 has fixed to it a beveled pinion 6I, Figure 2, which; through a meshing beveled pinion 62 fast on a cam shaft 63, serves to operate the cam shaft. The cam shaft 63 constitutes an operating member for the recording and reproducing units and is adapted to be operated to selected positions for bringing about the setting desired.

The cam shaft 63 has fast upon it four earns 64, 65, 66 and 61. Upon movement of the control knob 51 from the record position in Figure 2 to the neutral position, which is about onequarter of a revolution of the shaft 58 counterclockwise from the "record position, the cam 65, Figure 2, comes into play, and by engagement with the tail member I0 of the arm 8 serves to carry the feed roller 1 out of engagement with the record 3, so that the driving of the record is immediately interrupted. The cam 66 next engages the tail portion of a lifting lever 68, which is rockingly mounted upon a fulcrum stud 69. The cam 66 depresses the tail portion of the lever 68 and causes a forwardly extending portion of the lever at the opposite side of the fulcrum to be raised. The forward end of the lifting lever engages the under face of the arm 21, which is affixed to the recording unit I1, thereby lifting the recording stylus I8 off the record. At its upward limit of movement, the forward end of the lifter lever 68 also engages the under side of the portion 55 of arm 54. When the forward end of the lifter lever 68 has attained this uppermost position, the parts are in "neutral position and the record is stopped. The cam 64 has, in the meantime, been carried into engagement with the arm I6 to rock the shaft I5 and the nut arm I4 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4.

, Thus in the neutral 'position the feed wheel 1 has left engagement with the record, both the recording and reproducing units are held up away from the record, and the feed nut I3 has been carried out of engagement with the feed screw I2.

If it is next desired to shift the parts to the position for reproducing, the control or selector member 51 is operated to the reproduce position, which is approximately one-half revolution of the shaft 58 counter-clockwise from the neutral position.

The cam 61, which has not up to now performed any function, comes into engagement with the pivot pin 24. The cam 61 pushes the pivot pin 24 to the rear, swinging the yoke 22 about the pivot pin 23, and causing the recording unit I1 and the reproducing unit I9 to be carried rearward. As a consequence of this movement, the

stylus 20 is located over the record in the same vertical line previously occupied by the stylus I8. During this rearward movement, the lifter lever 68 engages the under face of the arm 21 and the under face of the portion 55 of the arm 54, so that both the recording unit I1 and the reproducing unit I9 are maintained in elevated positions by the lifter lever.

Both the arms 21 and 54 extend across a sta-' tionary plate 1|, which has a notch or recess 12 formed in it. When the pivot pin 24 is in its forward position, the arm portion 55 of the arm 54' is disposed in advance of the notch 12 in position to be held up by the portion 13 of the plate H in' front of the notch 12, and the arm 21 is over the notch or recess 12. When the pivot pin 24 has been shifted to the rear as just described, how

ever, the arm portion 55 is carried over the notch- 12, and the arm 21 is carried over the portion 14 of the plate H which lies to the rear of the notch 12. The cam 61, Figure 4, is formed with a dwell so that during the continued shifting of the control member 51 toward reproduce position the pivot pin 24 is held stationary.

Such continued movement, however, is effective to turn the cam 66 out of engagement with the lift lever 68 so that the reproducing unit is lowered to set the stylus 20 into engagement with the record, as in Figure 4, the recording unit I1' being at the same time held in elevated position by engagement of the arm 21 with the portion 14- of the plate H. The cam 64 is carried downward I2. Finally, the cam 65 is carried to a position aa scz permitting the tail member ID of the arm 8,

which carries the feed wheel 1, to be actuated by a return spring 15, so that the feed Wheel -.1 is

lowered .against the record, and the normal driving of the record occurs.

It has been mentioned that the recording unit I] is mounted for horizontal adjustment about the axis of the vertical pivot pin 26. Since this) is normally a fixed adjustment, and since the adjustable feature has no direct bearing upon the invention of the present application, reference, may be had to Serial No. 281,811 for the details .of

this feature.

The present machine also desirably includes means for stopping the record drive briefly or for;-

spacer mechanism of Serial No. 281,811 whereby the setting of the machine can be changed from that for recording or for normal reproduction to back space reproduction. The back spacing fee.- ture is important to the present invention, and a description of it will, therefore, be included. Since the present invention is concerned primarily with control of the machine by the dictator rather than the transcriber, the back spacing mechanism will be described primarily in its re lation to the dictator rather than the transcriber. For example, there are times when the dictator Wishes to go back a short distance and hear the last of the matter recorded on the record before continuing with the dictation. Provision is accordingly made for displacing the reproducing stylus a measured distance to the left from its normal position, While the reproducing stylus is out of engagement with the record. The provision for back spacing further includes means for permitting the rotation of the record While preventing bodily movement of the record during the limited reproduction secured by back spacing, so that the record carriage will be held immovable during the back space reproduction.

In the present machine, as in the illustrative machine of Serial No. 281,811, a back spacing knob 84, together with an indicating member 85, is afiixed to a shaft 86 in a plate 87. .The plate 8? also surrounds a shaft 9| which is journale'd in a frame member Ha. A hub 93 of an eccentric 94 is afiixed to the shaft 91..

The shaft 85 has fast upon it agear 95 which meshes with a gear 93 revolubly mounted upon a stub shaft 89. The gear 96 in turn meshes with a gear 91, the latter gear being afiixed -to the shaft at. Rotation of the knob 84 is-effective to carry the index pointer 85 across a graduated dial (not shown). Rotation of the knob 84 is also effective through the gears 95, 96 and 9? to rotate the shaft 91 and the eccentric 94. The eccentric 94 is disposed within a slotor notch lb! of a back spacirm slide I02. The slide it?! is guided for right-line movement along a frame member 484, being held to the frame member by means of a hold-down block 485 and screws N15.

The slide I02 is formed with a vertically exweirdly extending portion 56, of the arm $4 is received. The slot :lgfll'l extends vertically, but has a lateral extension 108 :at its lower end which extends toward the right. When the control member 5?! is in its neutral position, the reproducing unit is elevated, and hence the arm portion 56 is in the vertical portion of the slot I01. At this time, operation of the knob 84 toward the left will be effective to carry the reproducing unit toward the left, the extent of leftward movement being indicated by the ind-ex member and the cooperating dial.

If, after the reproducing unit 1'9 has been shifted to the left by operation of the knob 84., the control member 51 is operated to the Reproduce position, the record would be turned, but it would be at the same time translated as shown. When the reproduction secured by back spacing had been thus effected, it would not be possible to restore the back spacing mechanism and the reproducing stylus to the normal position corresponding to zero on the dial scale without skipping as many spaces or track turns on the record as were reproduced as a result of the back spacing operation. If the record carriage is held stationary, however, during the back space reproduction, the record will be rotated without translation and the arm portion 58 Will simply be propelled by the spiral sound track into the lateral extension I08 of the slot IE1 at back space reproduction. Provision is made for holding the record carriage against translation during back space reproduction, as will presently be described.

When the back space reproduction has been performed with the carriage thus held stationary, the operator may return the control member 51 to or through the neutral position. A cam formation 159 (Figure 3) just above the lateral extension N8 of the slot 101 causes the arm member 56 to be carried back into the upper vertical slot portion I01 as an incident of the lifting of the reproducing unit. The back spacing knob 8 may now be turned clockwise to the zero "point on the scale, thereby restoring the stylus 2D to its normal position. The recording or reproducing may now be resumed normally with the recording and reproducing styluses in their normal relation to one another.

The mechanism for causing the record to be turned without translation at back space reproduction comprises a earn I I0 (Figures 2,, 3 and 4) which is mounted on the .cam shaft 63 and lnterfitted with a rib or key .Hl on the shaft 53. The cam H0 is free to move lengthwise of the shaft 63 but the cam and the shaft are constrained by the key or rib I'll to turn in unison. The normal position of the cam H0 is that illustrated in Figure 2. in which position the cam is out of line with the arm Hi. The arm [6, it will be remembered,is fast upon a shaft I5, which shaft also has fast upon it the nut arm M. As has already been mentioned, a cam 64 fast with the shaft 63 is constantly in line w th the arm l5 and is effective when the control member "57! is operated to neutral position to rock the arm l6 rearward and thereby to lift the half nut t3 out of engagement with the feed screw l2.

When the cam shaft 63 is in the reproducing position, the arm l6 stands across the face of 10 cam Ill], so that the cam i la could not be operated longitudinally of the shaft 83 into transverse alignment with the arm It. Control mechanism including a finger piece or lever .I 12, Fig-- ure 3, is provided for the cam H0, whereby the cam H can be operated into transverse alignm'entwith the arm I6 when the control member 51 is in neutral or recording position, or can be biased when the control member 51 is in reproducing position to spring into transverse alignment with the arm I6 upon the operation of the cam shaft 63 to the neutral position.

The finger piec H2 is thus operated (toward the left) when back space reproduction is to be performed. By virtue of the arrangement just referred to, however, it may be operated either before or after the control member 51 has been operated to neutral position.

The finger piece H2 is affixed to ears H3 which are journaled upon a shaft I I4 carried by a frame bracket H5. A clutch shifting fork H6 is also journaled upon the shaft H4. A headed pin H8 affixed to the lower end portion H9 of the finger piece H2 extends freely through the clutch shifting fork. A compression spring I surrounds the shank of the headed pin I I8, bearing at one end against the head ,of the pin H8 and at the other end against the clutch shifting fork I it. The spring constrains the arm I I9 and the fork H6 to move in unison, but permits separation of the arm H9 from the fork I I6 when movement of the cam I I9 is obstructed. The bifurcations of the fork IIB are received in a groove i2I of a cam shifting collar I22. The collar I22 is fast with the cam H9. A deten-t spring I23 affixed to a stationary frame bracket, coacts with a tooth I25 on an extension I25a on the finger piece I I2 to oppose clockwise rocking of the finger piece H2 away from either the right-hand or left-hand position thereof (as viewed in Figure 3).

Assuming that the cam shaft '63 is in the reproducing position, counter-clockwise movement of the finger piece H2, as viewed in Figure 3, causes the lower end of the finger piece to be swung toward the right. Since the cam H0 is obstructed by the arm IS, the fork I I6 is not free to follow the arm H9 and the arm H9 is separated from the fork H6 the spring I20 being put under stress. The finger piece H2 is detained in its left-hand position by the tooth I25 and the spring I23 to maintain the desired condition of the finger piece. When the cam shaft 63 is now operated to its neutral position, the arm I6 is pushed out of obstructing relation to the cam H!) by the cam 64, and the spring I20 forces the cam I I0 toward the right and into transverse alignment with the arm I6.

When the back space knob 85 has been operated and the cam shaft 63 again operated to place the reproducing stylus 29 in engagement with the record and to restore contact of the feed wheel I with the record, the cam H0 will prevent forward movement of'the arm I6, and hence it will prevent engagement of the feed nut I3 with the feed screw I2.

- Not only will the cam H9 prevent the arm IB from shifting forward when the reproducine stylus 2D is lowered against the record but it will actually shift the arm I6 farther to the rear. As a consequence of this arrangement,'the cam I I0 serves to raise the nut arm I4 higher than it would be raised by the cam -64, with the result that a braking spring I29, Figure 4, affixed to the nut arm is pressed firmly against a carriage bar I21 to hold the carriage frictionally against unintended longitudinal movement.

Everything which has been described up to this point is present in the machine of Serial No.

281,811. The parts have described with reference to their manual operation because such provision for manual operation is retained in the present machine for the benefit of the transcriber.

For the benefit of the dictator, however, provision is made of relatively simple control means for switching the machine from a condition for recording to a condition for back space reproduction, and for restoring it from the condition for back space reproduction to the condition for recording. Such control means is desirably of a character such that the dictator may exercise the desired control over the machine and be informed of the condition of the machine even though the machine itself be located in another part of the room from the dictator or in a room remote from that of the dictator.

Without reference to detail, the principle of this remote control mechanism will first be briefly outlined. The control mechanism comprises two switches I5I and I52. The switch I5I may be operated to either of two circuit making positions. In one of its circuit making positions a solenoid I53 is energized for shifting the re-' producing stylus toward the left in preparation for back space reproduction. A solenoid I54 is simultaneously energized for shifting the finger piece I I2 toward the left so that the cam I ID will be shifted into alignment with the arm I6 or biased for shifting into alignment with the arm I6 upon subsequent operation of the cam shaft 63. These operations, as will be evident from the preceding description, are required when setting the machine for back space reproduction. The switch is not required to be retained in circuit making position, because the required operations are instantaneously performed.

In the other circuit making position of the switch member I5I a solenoid I55 is energized for shifting the reproducing stylus toward the right, that is, from the position for back space reproduction to the position required to be occupied by the stylus during normal reproduction. Operation of the switch member I5I to its second circuit making position also energizes a solenoid I59 for drawing the finger piece H2 toward the right and thereby shifting the cam H9 out of transverse alignment with the arm It.

The second switch member I52 when operated to one of its circuit closing positions closes an energizing circuit of a reversible motor I51 to drive the cam shaft 63 from the recording position of the cam shaft to the reproducing position thereof, and the movement of the switch member I52 to its second circuit closing position closes a second circuit to the reversible motor I51 and causes the motor to operate in the opposite direction and thereby to move the cam shaft I93 from the reproducing position to the recording position.

It will be useful to note before proceeding with the detailed description of the means whereby the above described operations are brought about to point out the practical conditions confronting the dictator who is dictating to a machine located in another room, and the operations actually required to be performed by him in meeting those conditions.

The dictator will ordinarily be concerned only with the establishment of recording conditions and of back space reproducing conditions. Occasionally. but probably not often, he will wish to listen back to a substantial portion of the record; for example, when he is interrupted in the course of dictation.

Under ordinary conditions, the dictator upon starting to dictate should first see that the switch member I 52 is in the recording position and then operate the switch I53 momentarily to the back space circuit closing position and permit it to return to neutral. Such operation of theswitcl'i I5I moves the cam- II B into transverse alignment with the arm I6 and moves the reproducing stylus which is out of contact with the record toward the left. It has no effect upon the record'- ing stylus I8, nor upon the fact that the machine is set for recording. The dictation may now proceed normally until the dictator decides that he wants to listen back to that limited portion of the dictation which he is able to hear through back space'reproduction'. He thereupon shifts the switch I52 to the reproducing position;

whereupon back-space reproduction is effected.

Having heard the last portion of the recording repeated, and being ready to resume dictation, he returns the switch I52 to the recording position. So long as nothing more than thesetwo conditions are required it is not necessary again" to actuate the switch I5 I Should the dictator, however, wish to listen in to a more extensive" portion of the recording than is made available by back-spacing, he will telephone to the machine supervisorto set' the machine back to the beginning of his dictation or to" the extent which he estimates is necessary to enable him to hear what he wants to hear; At this time the setting of the machine. may be assumed to be that for recording. When the machine has been Set back, the'dictat'or will op} erate the switch I'5I to the circuit closing position for normal reproduction and letit return to neutral. Then he will operate'the switch I52 to the reproducing positi'onjand'willlisteii up t o the end of the matterrecorded. When thispoint is reached, the switch I52 may be returned to the recording position and the dictation may" be resumed without further ado. Sinoe it is tob'e assumed, however, that he" will ordinarily" require back spacerepr'oduc' on; he may desirably at thistime operate'the switch IE'I momentarily to the back-space circuit closing'position to'avoid' the possibility of later'overlooking the' necessity for such operation. I

In addition to the switches I5I and I52, the dictator desirably has under his superyisiorifal start-stop switch, as disclosed'iri Serial No} 281;- 811; for interrupting either recording err-aproducing at will. a three switches referred to is very simple and; therefore, easy to learn and easy'toremeinber'.

The solenoids I55 and I53 are'mountedjin axial alignment with one anothefupon abra'cketiii'em ber I58. Thesesolenoidshave a common armature member I59 which is provided with" stops I 56 and I 6 I for limiting movement oi the, armatm'e'toward the right and towardthe' left, respectively, by' engagement with rigid non-conducting end members of the seleno'ids. The armature member I59 hasa' slot I62 in whieh plays a pin I63 carried by upstanding arms or a yoke lei; Fi'gure's'3' and 4. Tn'eyoke" 164 is rastwitn a. shaft I65 which is supported in a bearing I66. The shaft I also has fast upon it a gear seg ii ment lfil'which isnormally'hel'd frictio'rially'oiit of engagement with the gear STto' the rightfof engaging position; Figure 3, but which is'nioizfed to operate the gear 9T counter' clockwise asfthe' armature I59 m'oves'to'ward the'ri'ght, a'ii'd'clo'ck The technic of controlling the I88 and the conductor I82 back to the maiii nti ing'ro'd' 203', orih any" effective, through wise as the armature I59 moye'sit'dwardthe left. It will be remembered that the gear m is con nected to drive an eccentric or cam 94' whereby the back spacing slide I02, is operated.

The solenoids I54 and I56are'simi'larly rr'i'o'unt ed upon a bracket I68 in axial alignment with one another, and are si'milarly pro ided' with a common armature member haying stops ITI'I and Ill. 7 The finger piece or armature N 2 has af fixedto it a pin I12 which plays in a slot I13 formed in the armature I69. The'arni'ature IE9 is drawn toward the left by" energization o'fthf' solenoid I54, and toward the right" by energize tion' of th'e'fsolenoid I5'6. I p cur ent for energizing the solenoids I53, I54; :55; ljfifiis'suppli'ed' from conquctormams- I n and H5, Figure 8. The main I'I 4jis constantly con ne'c'ted through a conductor I16 to a movable'cone tact member I'II of the switch ISI. This switch is normally biased to the neutral position illustrated in Figure 8'in' any conventionalway, and returns to that position as soon as the switch handle is released. I a

When the switchmer'i'i'berj I T'l'isimo'ved' intqengagement with a contact H8; current flows through a con uctor" n9- andiaiconductdr ran to the" solenoid r56, thencethrough a: centimete I 81 anda Conductor I 82bac'k tothe IIieJi'niflBI Italsd flowsin a parallelpath fro'r'n thei'condiictorj I 19 to the conductor I83, throughth solenoid If55; thence throu'g'h' a conduct r FM and the" conductor IBZba'ck to theni'ain I75. i

when the switchmerribefI-ll ifs'move'd'ihto" iiiagement with a contact 185 current flows through a conductor I86. anu con uctor I181 to the solenoid I54, and thencei'thrdug li a condiiet'ofr It also, flows in parallel f om the ceriduct r' Its toa conductor I89 throughthefsolenoid I53, and thencethroug'h aeonductdr mo -and the conduc' to'rl82 back to the main I15, V I

Current for energizing the motor" IS'Ifis also supplied from t e mains Il'4and: r15: 'rhe main I14 is'connectedthrough a on'au1;tor re T 8,.to a movable switch ineniber" I92 o'f'swi when this movableswitch'in n agement with Contact ent flows' through a con uctor let to thei notor [51; It o'ws. thence along a conductor" [95' to device" I96, se'e" Figure 1 also, whichwilfbe as: s'cribed'i'n detail; v

At the time when" the switch member, I52 is movedf'rom' the recording, position to the repreducin'g position so theis'wit'ch' contacts I 92' and I 93, the switchii 'ertb ber I91- is'iri ngagement witn'a'contact l'u'aof a; conductor" I991 The current; therefore, news through the conductor I 99 to'a' contact 200; and thencealong afmbvableswitch nieniber 2o lfo'ff the switch I 52 which is,o'onstahtlyconhected' through aconductor 2H2v tothe'iri'ain I 15.

The moyableswitch nieinb'r's I 9'2 and. 2017 of the switch 152; are physically connected t5 herein unison with one another byaniinsmauagtc'dmieet- I V other' siiitable manner; The new of the currentthrodgn-tiieiiiidtbrin the manner described operates-the motor-m9; dii'c tion armor/e thec'a'rn' snare ss f "m the record ingf'poeinon' to'the repreducingi st cam shaft reaches: the reprom ci' g. p

means which willpr'esehtly'be described, to cause switch contact member'lllft'o beslii'fted out "of'ehg'ageinent with th'e o'iitactraa anemicengagement-wane;C ntactrarerawn: ductor'ZIJE. Thermometer 20's is apeifcir'cuitd to establish ngagement of because the switch member 2IlI is in its upper po, sition as illustrated in Figure 8, and hence the circuit to the motor is broken and the motor is stopped.

When subsequently it is desired to operate the cam shaft 63 back to the recording position, the switch I52 is cperated'to carry the switch member I92 out of engagement with the contact I93 and into engagement with a contact 205 of a conductor 201 which runs to the motor. Operation of the switch also carries the movable switch member 20I out of engagement with the contact 200 and into engagement with a contact 208 of the conductor 205. A circuit is thereby established from th main I14 through a conductor I9I, switch member I92, contact 206, conductor 201, motor I51, conductor I95, switch member I01, contact 284, conductor 205, contact 208, switch member 20 I and conductor 252 back to the main I15. The motor is thereby energized to move the cam shaft from the reproducing position to the recording position.

As the cam shaft reaches the recording position the switch member I91 is moved out of engagement with the contact 204 to open circuit the motor, and'is moved into engagement with the contact I98 to make the motor operable in the reverse direction when the switch I52 is next operated to engage switch members I92 and 20I with the contacts I93 and 200, respectively.

For bringing about movement of the switch member I91 in the manner described, the cam shaft 63 has fast upon it a pair of arms 209 and 2 I0, Figures 1 and 2, for coacting with a pin 2II carried by the tail portion of a snap lever 2I2. The snap lever 2I2 is pivotally supported upon a bearing member 2|3 carried by a bracket 2I4. Clockwise turning of the snap lever 2 I2 (as viewed in Figure 1) is limited by a lower pin 2I5 affixed to the bracket 2%, and counter-clockwise movement of the lever is limited by engagement with an upper pin 2 I6 affixed to the bracket 2I4. A tension spring 2I1 is connected at one end to the pin 2 and at the other end to an ear 2I8 formed on the bracket 2 I 4 As viewed in Figure 1 the lever 2I2 is at its clockwise limit of movement, the position which it normally occupies when the parts are set for reproducing. Upon movement of the switch I52 tothe reproducing position, the shaft 63 will be rotated by the motor in a clockwise direction, so that the arm 2 I will be moved around underneath the pin2II to raise thetail of the lever 2I2. As soon as the line of centers connecting the axes of the pin 2| I and the bearing member 2I3 crossesthe axis of the spring 2I1, the lever 2I2 is snapped to its counterclockwise limit of movement, being arrested by the stop pin -2H5, Figure 5. In performing this movement, the nose of the lever 2I2 is caused to press against a spring leaf 2I9 which is affixed to a casing element 220 of the switch device I96. The casing member 220 is pivotally mounted upon a bolt 22I with freedom to rock toward the left as viewed in Figure 1. The casing is yieldingly supported against such rocking movement by means of a bolt 222 which is slidingly mounted in a frame bracket 223, and which is urged toward the right by a compression spring 224 which surrounds the shank of the bolt portion and which is interposed between the bracket the bolt. A thrust pin 225 is guided in the casing 220 for engaging and flexing the switch member I31. Pressure of the nose of the lever 2 I2 against 223 and the head of v the spring leaf 2I9' serves to bend the switch member I91 over into engagement with the con tact I08. When that movement is completed,-the switch device I96 may rock slightly toward the left, Figures 1 and 8,ag'ainst the resistance of the spring 224, to prevent damage to the switch member I91 and at the same time assure firm engagement of it with the contact I98.

When the cam shaft 63 has been operated in a clockwise direction as described, it may be operated in a counter-clockwise direction to return it to the reproducing position by moving the switch member I52 to the reproducing position as illustrated in Figure 8. Inthe latter part of this movement the arm 209 engages the pin 2! I to rock the lever 2I2 in a clockwise direction. As soon as the line of centers of the pin 2H and the bearing member 2I3 crosses the axis of the spring 2I1, the lever 2I2 is snapped clockwise to the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, thereby breaking the circuit to the motor and restoring the initial or reproducing condition of the parts.

In application Serial No. 218,082 disclosure is made of means operated by the cam shaft I35 for altering the voice current circuits to establish one set of connections when the recording unit is effective and another set of connections when the reproducing unit is effective. As shown in Figure 20 of said application this operation is effected through a crank 23I fast upon a switch operating shaft 324.' A corresponding crank 23I and switch controlling shaft 324 are provided in the present machine for the same purpose as in Serial No. 218,082. The circuits controlled may also desirably be the same as those illustrated and described in Serial No. 218,082.

In the present machine the cam shaft 63 has fast upon it a crank 232, Figures 12 and 5, which is pivotally connected to a link 233. The link 233 has lost motion connection with a connecting rod 234, the link being provided with a pin 235 which plays in a longitudinal slot 236 at the upper end of the connecting rod. The lower end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the crank 23I. The parts are illustrated in reproducing position in Figure 1 and in'recording position in Figure 5. The described train of connections is effective to produce the desired rocking of the shaft 324.

Bypivoting the link 233 on the arm 232 interference with the shaft 53 is avoided when it extends beyond the arm 232. In a machine as illustrated in application Serial No. 218,082, in which the shaft 63 does not extend beyond the arm 232 an alternative arrangement may be used as illustrated in Figure 9. Here the cam shaft 63A has fast upon it a crank 232A which is provided with a. pin 235A. The pin 235A plays in a slot 236A of a connecting rod 234A which is pivotally connected to a crank 23IA fast on a switch controlling shaft 324A. The operation and function of the shaft 324A is the same as that of the shaft 324. As the arm 23IA reaches its lowermost position, the upper end of the link 234A is free to swing past the end of shaft 63A.

It will be remembered that the transcriber is not interested when using the machine for transcriptionpurposes in setting it for recording, but

that the transcriber is interested in setting it either for normal reproduction or for back space reproduction. The motor I51 includes reduction gearing, and hence, if mounted fast on the cam shaft 63, would throw an added burden upon the transcriber who is required to operate the shaft 63v from the reproducing. position to the neutral position and; back to the reproducing position again.

In order toavoid this unnecessary load with its attendant slowing down of the work, the motor I5? is connected to the cam shaft 63 through a releasable clutch which is under the control of the transcriber at the machine. The motor output shaft 231 has affixed. to it a toothed clutch member 238, Figures 2 and 7', which is normally in mesh with a mating clutch member 239. The latter clutch member is connected to the cam shaft 63 through a rib or key 240 on the cam shaft and a slot formed in the clutch member, so that the clutch member is constrained to rotate in unison with the cam shaft, but is free to be shifted longitudinally of the latter. A clutch shifting fork 24] engages in a groove 242 of the clutch member 239 for shifting the member 239 into and out of. mating relation with the clutch member 238.

The fork 24! is impaled upon a bolt or pin 2&3, which bolt is mounted in ears 2M and 245 of a bracket 2st. An enlarged portion 2 3'! of the bolt or pin 2 23 stands between the fork 24! and the ear 2%.. A compression spring 248 surrounds the pin 243 between the fork 2M and the ear 244 and urges the fork toward the right as viewed in Figure 7. The fork has an upper end portion projecting above the casing which extends to an accessible position where it may serve as an operating finger piece for pulling the clutch member 239 out of engagement with the clutch member 238 and holding while the cam shaft 63 is manually operated by the control member. 51 from recording position to neutral position and back to recording position again.

As a matter of convenience for the transcriber and to simplify the operation, a switch 249 is desirably provided at the machine in parallel with the switch I54. A conductor 250' runs from the conductor l'ifi to a movable switch member 252 of switch 249. The switch member 252 may be'moved into engagement with a contact 253 of conductor I79 to energize solenoidsv I55 and. I 55 simultaneously, or into engagement with a contact 25.4 of conductor [86 to energize solenoids I53 and I54 simultaneously. The provision of the switch obviates the necessity for separately actuating the back space slide Hi2 and the cam H;

Thus when the machine is set for normal reproduction and back space reproduction is desired, it is only necessary to operate the control member to neutral position, then close the switch 2 38 upon contact 3 momentarily, and restore control member 5'! to the reproducing position. Similarly, when the machine is set for backspace reproduction and normal reproduction is desired, it is only necessary to shift the control member 57 to neutral position,close the switch M9 momentarily upon the contact 253, and then return the control member 51 to reproducing position.

I have described what I believe to be the. best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth inthe appended. claims.

I claim:

1. In a dictation machine, in combination, means for driving a record, means for recording,

onthe-recordincluding a recordingstylus, means for reproducing. fromthe' record including a. reproducing stylus, saidi styluses adapted for alternative; engagement: with the record, control means remote from the machine and accessible to the dictator and settable to one condition at a single operation, a common operating member responsive to such settingto operate the recording means to an ineffective condition with the recording stylus out. of engagement with the record and to; operate the reproducing means to an effective condition with the reproducing stylus in engagement with. the record, said remote control means. being also settable to another condition at another single operation, and said common operating member being responsive to; the latter setting to operate the. reproducing: means to an ineffective condition with the reproducing stylus out of engagement with the record and to operate the recording means to aneffectiveconditionwith the recording stylus in engagement with. the record, andv means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record. driving means ineffective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record; driving means effective as either stylusi'smoved into engagement with the record.

2; In a dictation. machine, in combination, means for driving a record, means for recording ongthe record including arecording stylus, means for reproducing from the record including a reproducing stylus, said styluses. adapted for alternative engagement with the record, a single control member remote from the. machine and accessible to the dictator and settable to one position at a single operation, a common operating member responsive to such setting to operate the recording means to an. ineffective condition with the recording stylus out of engagement with the record and to operate the reproducing means to an effective condition with the reproducing stylus in engagement with the record, said remote control member being also settable to another position at. another single operation, and said common operating member being responsive to the latter setting to operate the reproducing means to an ineffective condition with the reproducing: stylus outv of engagement with the record and to operate the recording means to an efiective condition with the recording stylusin engagementwith the record and means actuated by the common operatingmember for rendering the record driving. means inefiective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

3. In a dictation machine which includes meansfor driving a record, means for recording on the record including a recording stylus, and means for reproducing from the record including a. reproducing stylus, said styluses adapted for alternative engagement with the record, the improvement which comprises, in combination, control meansremote from the machine and accessible to the dictator and settable toone condition effective at a single operation, a common operating member-responsive tosuch setting to operate the recording means to an ineffective condition with the recording stylus out of engagement. with the record and to operatethe reproducing means to an-effectivecondition with the. reproducing stylus-d m engagement with the the record driving means effective as ward or back when it is out of engagement with the record, to cause it to be set into engagement with the record by operation of the first mentioned control means either in a position for normal reproduction or for backspace reproduction as desired, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means ineffective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means effective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

4. In a dictation machine, in combination,

means for rotating a record, means for normally translating the record as an incident of such rotation, means for reproducing from the record including a reproducing stylus, means supporting the stylus with capacity for movement into and out of engagement with the record and also with capacity for advancing movement imparted by the record when the record is rotated without translation, disabling means normally ineffective but settable to cause the record translating means to be disabled as the reproducing stylus is moved into engagement with the record and to be held disabled during back space reproduction, back spacing means actuable to effect relative movement of the record and the reproducing stylus to bring about a back space setting of the reproducing stylus relative to the record While the reproducing stylus and the record are disengaged, and means including a single control member effective at a single operation to render said disabling means efiective and to actuate said back spacing means.

5. In a dictation machine, in combination, means for rotating a record, means for normally translating the record as an incident of such rotation, means for reproducing from the record including a reproducing stylus, means supporting the stylus with capacity for movement into and out of engagement with the record and also with capacity for advancing movement imparted by the record when the record is rotated without translation, disabling means normally ineffective but settable to cause the record translating means to be disabled as the reproducing stylus is moved into engagement with the record and to be held disabled during back space reproduction, back spacing means actuable to efiect relative movement of the record and the reproducing stylus to bring about a back space setting of the reproducing stylus relative to the record while the reproducing stylus and the record are disengaged, and means effective at a single operation to render said disabling means inefiective and to eliminate a back space setting.

6. In a dictation machine, in combination, means for rotating a record, means for normally translating the record as an incident of such rotation, means for reproducing from the record including a reproducing stylus, means supporting the stylus with capacity for movement into and out of engagement with the record and also with capacity for advancing movement imparted by the record when the record is rotated without translation, disabling means normally ineffective but settable to cause the record translating means to be disabled as the reproducing stylus is moved into engagement with the record and to be held disabled during back space reproduction, back spacing means actuable to efiect relative movement of the record and the reproducing stylus to bring about a back space setting of the reproducing stylus relative to the record while the reproducing stylus and the record are disengaged, and means effective at a single operation to render said disabling means eiiective and to actuate said back space means to produce a back space setting, and at another single operation to render said disabling means inefiective and to eliminate a back space setting.

7. In a dictation machine which includes a record support, record driving means, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a reproducing unit comprising a reproducing stylus, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a reversible electric motor for driving the operating member from a recording position to a reproducing position, and from the reproducing position to the recording position, control circuit means for the motor including a manual control member, automatic circuit control means operated by the operating member to open circuit the motor as the operating member arrives in either recording or reproducing position, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means inefiective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means effective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

8. In a dictation machine which includes a record support, record driving means, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a reproducing unit comprising a reproducing stylus, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a reversible electric motor for driving the operating member from a: recording position to a reproducing position, and from the reproducing position to the recording position, control circuit means for the motor including a manual control member, automatic circuit control means operated by the operating member to open circuit the motor as the operating member arrives in either recording or reproducing position, and to set the circuit means so that the operating member will be driven by the motor to the other of said positions in response to a further operation of the manual control member, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means ineffective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means effective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

9. In a dictation machine which includes a 'record support, record driving means, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a reproducing unit comprising a reproducing stylus,

, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a reversible electric motor for driving the operating member from a recording position to a reproducing position, and from the reproducing position to the recording position, control circuit means for the motor including a manual control member operable selectively to either of two alternative circuit making positions according to the setting of the operating member desired, automatic circuit control means operated by the operating member to open circuit the motor as the operating member arrives in either recording or reproducing position with the control member in one of its circuit making positions, and to set the circuit means so that the control member is required to be operated to the other of its circuit making positions to reestablish energization of the motor, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means inefiective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means efiective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

10. In a dictation machine which includes a record support, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a reproducing unit comprising a reproducing stylus, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a reversible motor for driving the operating member in one direction to a recording position and in the other direction to a reproducing position, control circuit means for the motor including a manual control member, automatic circuit control means operated by the operating member to open circuit the motor as the operating member arrives in either recording or reproducing positions, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means ineifective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means efiective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

11. In a dictation machine which includes a record support,'record driving means, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a re producing unit comprising a reproducing stylus, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a reversible motor for driving the operating member in one direction to a recording position and in the otherv direction to a reproducing position, control circuit means for the motor including a manual control member, automatic circuit control means operated by the operating member to open circuit the motor as the operating member arrives in either recording or reproducing position with the control member in a corresponding circuit making position, and to alter the circuit means so that the control member is required to be operated to the other of its circuit making positions in order to bring about further operation of the operating member, and means actuated by the common operating member for rendering the record driving means ineffective as either stylus is disengaged from the record and for rendering the record driving means efiective as either stylus is moved into engagement with the record.

12. In a dictation machine which includes a record support, a recording unit comprising a recording stylus, and a reproducing unit comprising a reproducing stylus, in combination, means for placing the styluses alternatively in engagement with the record comprising a common operating member for the recording and reproducing units, a motor for driving the op- 

